Cyclone Gaja Updates: Heavy rains to lash Lakshadweep
Chennai, Nov 17: Cyclone Gaja has wreaked havoc in coastal Tamil Nadu and the death toll due to the cyclone has reached 35. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami yesterday and assured all possible help from the Centre.
Cyclone Gaja hit Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu early on Friday morning, following which heavy rains and strong winds were reported. As the cyclone made its landfall at around 1.40 am, the intensity of the winds decreased for a brief while before rising again.
People were vacated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 300 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur, reported news agency PTI.
A MET department bulletin issued at 3.15 said that though the centre of the cyclone is over, real sector of eyewall is still over sea. It would take an hour to move to land. The storm is likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during the next six, the MET department also said in its update.
In an attempt to mitigate damage to properties and human lives, the state administration headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has planned to evacuate around 20,000 people residing on the coastal line and moving them to relief camps.
Helpline numbers:
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority has opened district-level helpline 1077 for people to contact in case of emergency. The body's State helpline 1070 is also in use.
Emergency contact numbers for the districts are:
Nagapattinam - 9443500728, 9843810579, 9003322566
Cuddalore - 04142-220700
Tiruvarur - 04366-226623
Pudukottai - 04322-222207
Thanjavur - 04362-230121
Ramanathapuram - 04567-230060
Cyclone Gaja highlights:
#TamilNadu: Houses and electric poles damaged and trees uprooted due to #GajaCyclone in Thiruvarur's Kokaladi village pic.twitter.com/P7Q26DMDQF
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
#GajaCyclone: Two dead and one injured in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district. MC Sampath, State Minister, says, "People who have lost their lives in the cyclone will be given ex-gratia by the state govt." pic.twitter.com/UaXV7d9Sxq
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
#NDRF #TeamsDeployment #GajaCyclone pic.twitter.com/Yc1BGBNrNe
— NDRF (@NDRFHQ) November 15, 2018
#GajaCycloneUpdates nomenclature of #Gaja Cyclone pic.twitter.com/BkZowKAeh5
— R04 (@balajir04) November 15, 2018
Houses collapse, trees uprooted
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds as outer edge of the cyclone reaches shore. Roofs of many thatched houses damaged in Vedaranyam. Trees uprooted in Nagapattinam town as cyclone nears shores between Karaikal and Vedaranyam.
29,000 permanent cyclone shelters:
TN minister for industries M C Sampath said,''Chief Minister had instructed district administration, so they are on alert at all places. There has not been a single incident. Cuddalore district has seen so many cyclones, so our preparation is very good.''
''There are 29,000 permanent cyclone shelters, 233 shelters made in schools, colleges & marriage halls. More than 5000 people are present in these shelters, food is being provided to them,'' he further said.
Schools, colleges to remain closed
With the Tamil Nadu government already declaring that 30,500 rescue personnel were on standby, the district collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram have declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday
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